Ishikawa Diagram

NOTE: Many free, downloadable templates are available online and for different industries! See,
for example, https://www.edrawsoft.com/fishbone-examples.php

1. Write the effect--or the problem statement--in a box/circle/space on the right side of
your page or whiteboard. This is the "head of the fish." Make sure there is team consensus
and a shared understanding of the problem or effect.
Example:

2. Determine the cause categories. These categories become the ends of the fish bones.
The categories are dependent on your effect/problem statement. There is no limit to how many,
although most often, there are between four and eight. If your group finds this difficult, just begin
with standardized categories, and revise as necessary:
Methods
Machines (equipment)
People (manpower)
Materials
Measurement
Environment

1
 Example:

3. Brainstorm for causes, and place them under the appropriate categories. There is no
limit to how many causes.
Example:

2
4. Include secondary/sub, and even tertiary, causes if necessary.
Example:

Resources:

American Society for Quality. (2017). Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram. Retrieved from: http://asq.org/learn-about-
quality/cause-analysis-tools/overview/fishbone.html.

Propst, A. (1992). Basic tools: cause and effect diagram. Statistics division newsletter, Winter, 1992. Rockford, IL:
Quality Transformation Services.